Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
52. Anuruddha Saṃyutta
1. Raho-Gata Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
52. Kindred Sayings about Anuruddha
1. In Solitude

Sutta 3

Sutanu Suttaṃ

Sutanu

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

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[263]

[1] THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the venerable Anuruddha
was staying on the bank of the river Sutanu^[1]
at Sāvatthī

[264] Now a number of monks came to visit the venerable Anuruddha,
and on coming to him
greeted him courteously and,
after the exchange of greetings and courtesies,
sat down at one side.

So seated those monks said this:

"By cultivating
and making much of what conditions
has the venerable Anuruddha
attained great supernormal power?"

■

"Friends, it is by cultivating
and making much of
four arisings of mindfulness
that I have done so.

What four?

Herein, friends, I dwell in body contemplating body
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.

So also, friends, I dwell in feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.

I dwell in mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.

I dwell in mind-states contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
self-possessed
and mindful,
by restraining the dejection in the world
that arises from coveting.

■

It is by cultivating
and making much of
these four arisings of mindfulness, friends,
that I have come by great supernormal power.

Moreover, friends, by cultivating
and making much of
these four arisings of mindfulness,
I can recognize a mean state as mean,
a middling state as middling,
and an excellent state as excellent."^[2]

 

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^[1] I have not met this name elsewhere.

^[2] Comy. 'What states are mean? The twelve unprofitable intentions. ... What are the middling states? That which is profitable on three grounds: its fruit on three grounds; action that makes no difference (kiriy'abyākataṇ) on three grounds; and all body (rūpa). What states are excellent? The four paths in full, the four fruits of a recluse's life, and Nibhāna.'